sidewinder

Must put in a word for Joe's work on 'Delightfulee' by Lee Morgan. There are a couple of smoking quintet tracks on this album which burn as well as 'The Melting Pot' from the 'Blue Spirit' album. Also thumbs up for 'The Prisoner' by Herbie Hancock. Joe's tenor work on this album is typically workmanlike and inspired. If there's one thing he always imparted on albums with which he was involved it was 'value added'. All time greatest from Joe for me must be his work on 'The Sidewinder'. His contribution should receive due credit for making this such a landmark BN album... I saw Joe just the once, in a small club with quartet backing just before the public started to take notice. The thing that stands out is the unique, rounded sound and almost foggy he got out of that old sax he was playing (maybe this was the instrument he used on 'Our Thing' and other BN sessions - the lacquer was quite worn?) Truly distinctive sound, instantly identifiable. I can still recall that fantastic solo he put in on 'Recorde Me' that night. Phenomenal ! :rsmile:

There's always a good vibe and warmth about his recordings - which draws the listener in. I suspect that this reflects the character of the man himself, from opinions I've heard from those who worked with him. Very, very honourable mention also for his work on Hank Mobley's 'A Slice of the Top'. Duke did the arrangements whilst Mobley was in jail I believe, from sketch arrangements supplied. The results were predictably excellent.

Just checked it out on the radio. Sounded even better on this recording than at the concert (location up front made it a bit difficult to pick out the orchestral voicings at times). Hill's piano playing comes across magnificently on playback ..

Looks like they are on such a roll of late that they'll be bringing back the vinyl issues next ...........

I'm a big time fan of the two big band albums on Blue Note - 'Introducing Duke Pearson's Big Band' and 'Now Hear This !'. Both very nice sessions, conventional big band material but with an adventurous edge with inclusion of material by the likes of Chick Corea. Also the cream of the NY session players at the time, many of who also participated in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. One over-riding impression of Duke from these sessions is - GREAT TASTE ! They are also very listenable and 'user friendly' recordings. Again, characteristics of most of Duke's material. Other larger group material to check out is on the very fine Blue Mitchell Mosaic set and for excellent mid-sized group sounds check out 'Wahoo' and 'The Right Touch' (both under Duke's name) and 'Little Johnny C'. The latter was put out under Johnny Coles' name but is effectively a Duke Pearson session with all of the virtues that this entails ... :rsmile:

When it comes to droids, this guy is the biz ...... :rsmile:

Its bad enough just keeping up with the OOPs ...... The backlog of the newer stuff is now getting critical !

I'll second that ! :rsmile:

And it can only go up from here too ! :rsmile:

I'm not suprised to hear this very positive report - and in the very grooving environment of the 'Jazz Bakery' on Helms, that sounds like one heck of a nice gig. The one time I saw Solal in solo recital performance was a jaw-dropper, a real revelation. Those big band albums (on Verve and Dreyfus Jazz Line) are also to die for - I've yet to locate the vinyl. Will also have to check out this new BN release, thanks for the reminder !

I just hope that they sort out the permission thing re: the potential Tal Farlow Complete Verve box. That set is going to please a lot of Tal and Mosaic afficionados !

I'll second the comments about the CD stall. Some good things on there (I picked up a 'Colin Towns Mask Orchestra' and John Mayer's 'Indo Jazz Fusions 2001' for £18 the pair, not bad) and there was a stack of old copies of Coda, which I usually raid on my annual visit to the fest. Any CD stall with about 15 copies of Mike Osborne's 'Outback' for sale is pretty cool in my estimations ! The best venue at Bath for my taste was probably the 'Tramshed'. It was the perfect venue for Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy about 15 years ago (I used to have a video of this concert but it was accidentally wiped over ) . I believe that they have now converted the Tramshed into yuppie flats now though (or something of this ilk ...) I rather like the Guildhall - it was best in the days though when there was a wine bar just outside the recital room serving wine by the glass instead of plastic receptacles ! Very refined. Highlight at this venue was Martial Solal solo recital, again many years ago.

Lee Morgan's 'The Rajah' is a five star in my view but it always seems to get lukewarm reviews. Worth buying for the tasty rendition of 'Is That So' alone !

From this list it would have to be 'Smokestack' but my all-time faves would have to be: - Sam Rivers 'Dimensions and Extensions' (way cool ..) and 'Contours' - Johnny Coles 'Little Johnny C' - Johnny Griffin 'The Congregation' (another Warhol - nuff said !) - Horace Silver 'The Jody Grind' (check out Horace's chicks ! )

Yes Bev, he was very enthusiastic about this band and was very relaxed in his interactions with some of the UK musicians who were hanging around back stage (altoist Tony Kofi for one). I personally thought Baptiste played extremely well and he interacted nicely with Greg Tardy. Suspect that economics had a lot to do with the joint US/UK composition of the band. Yes, the Afro-Caribbean community has enriched the UK jazz community immeasurably over the years. I was reminded of this recently listening to Joe Harriott and Shake Keane on my LP copy of 'Indo-Jazz Suite'. Messrs Baptiste, Kofi and co. are carrying on this honourable tradition .. Of course, Andrew himself has that strong Haitian connection too ! :rsmile:

- Dean Benedetti Charlie Parker Mosaic - Thad Jones Mel Lewis Mosaic - Andrew Hill 'Grass Roots' - Freddie Hubbard 'Blue Spirits' - Duke Pearson 'Introducing Duke Pearson's Orchestra' - Sonny Criss 'Sonny's Dream (Birth of the New Cool) - Pat Metheny 'American Garage' - Lee Morgan 'Sidewinder'

Claude - I remember the thrill I had finding that one in a Toronto vinyl store about 12 years ago. The week earlier I had also found the vinyl of 'Polarization'. Both German pressings and excellent condition, $5-$6 each

Not necessarily 'greatest finds' but not bad either. Managed to get hold of Tony Williams' Blue Notes 'Angel Street' and 'Foreign Intrigue' on vinyl today. I've been looking for copies of these for a while.

John - I still can't believe I was lucky enough to have this chat. It was a real pleasure !

I'll second that recommendation for the 'Straight No Chaser' video/DVD. It's fantastic viewing, with valuable footage from Columbia studios and Monk's travels through Europe with the larger group. Not to mention the film of Monk at Pannonica de Koenigswarter's appartment overlooking the Hudson (with Monk swarmed by cat menagerie .. )

Probably Horace Parlan, if we are talking 'house sound', however Horace S and Sonny Clark would fit the bill just as well for me ..

Given this one quite a few listens today. My own preference would definitely be for the earlier session and the preference for the Waits/Carter combination. I find that they give the music an element of 'spring' that works particularly well with Hill's piano style. Waits also plays with great taste throughout. I find the version of 'Soul Special' in particular to be preferable to the earlier version with Reggie, Idris and co. The earlier version has a funkier, laid back groove which is most agreeable but misses some of the 'tautness' of the later version. Particular cred to Freddie Waits for his very fine playing on this track. My favourite track on the whole disk is 'Venture Inward' by the later band, which is a blast from beginning to end in my opinion and superbly executed. The later version of 'Soul Special' is also pretty neat, with honourable mentions also for the hypnotic 'MC' by the earlier band and the fascinating final track - 'Love Nocturne'. This reminds me quite a bit of the feel on Hill's earlier composition 'Pax', included on the Mosaic and the 'One For One' twofer set.

Splendid !! Many thanks for this ! I got the details by the way from the free booklet that had details of all the performances. Didn't realise that there was a programme that you actually had to pay for.

Did your hearing survive the 'barage of sound' from "Supersilent", David ? Mine is only just coming back to normal ..

Were you sitting at the front and more in the middle Bev? There was a guy with a laptop computer and cameras on the table next to me, if that helps to locate things. I think the Hill performance got some mixed reactions from the punters at the fest but maybe this was unfamiliarity with the style. I think it helped to be familiar with Hill's concepts and methods. Certainly you had to listen very carefully to the nuances of this one but the efforts were well and truly rewarded. Didn't catch the Schweizer/Favre in the Guildhall but did see the Tracey/Wellins at this location. Couldn't get into the swing of things at the Workshop de Lyon's performance I'm afraid. Left me a bit unengaged, as did the Mathew Bourne. I'm more of a 'has-been Blue Note groover' so the Guy Barker was right up my street. The Italian altoist he had with him in this group (Rosario Giuliani) was a revelation (a bit like James Spaulding crossed with Jackie Mclean ) and the organ player had a definite hint of Larry Young about him. :rsmile: